Renewing his License to Bully, Rep. John Ragan picks up House companion to Don't Say Gay bill

Rep. John Ragan of Anderson County filed the House companion bill (HB1332)  to Sen. Stacey Campfield's Don't Say Gay bill today. 

Rep. Ragan is well known for his condescending comments to citizens about last year's License to Bully bill, most famously to Kristin Johnson.  So few people who have been following these issues over the last year will be surprised that Rep. Ragan has signed on as the House sponsor.

Even though the Associated Press reported a few weeks ago that Governor Bill Haslam, Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey, and Speaker of the House Beth Harwell have all distanced themselves from the bill, Rep. Ragan is either oblivious to or indifferent to the bill's harm to children and to the image of the state.

TEP is urging citizens to call on Rep. Ragan to withdraw the House companion bill.  You can do so at this Change.org petition that sends a message to Rep. Ragan.  You may also call Rep. Ragan's office and leave a message asking him to withdraw the bill at 615-741-4400.  State your name and address and ask him to withdraw HB1332.

Let's preserve the confidential relationship of trust between counselors and students and not give in to this hateful bill that hurts real people and hurts the image of Tennessee.

The Don't Say Gay bill is back

Well, we knew it was a matter of time. Sen. Bunch and Rep. Campfield have reunited for their duo performance of last year's hit "Don't Say Gay," also known as SB1250/HB0821. This year's digitally remastered version is sure to be on all the club mixes this spring.

OK, back to earth...thanks again, gentlemen, for attempting to erase our existence. No matter how unspeakable you think the love that dare not speak its name is, it's not going away. And it's going to get talked about, and honest curricula in science, health, social studies, and literature will deal with it as part of the overall subject matter. So middle school students won't be allowed to discuss the battles over marriage when they're learning to write essays? Are we going to encourage them to stop reading the news? Unworkable foolishness.

Update: Minnesota's largest school district is dropping its Campfieldesque policy.